AVERY COUNTY - A man who injured his hip while hiking was rescued from the woods on Wednesday night.

The North Carolina Helo-Aquatic Rescue Team, known as NC HART, airlifted the 70-year-old man from an area near Hunt Fish Falls in Avery County, according to a news release issued late Wednesday. He had been unable to hike out.

"Deep in the woods, with darkness nearing and facing an extended hike carrying the injured man, local rescue crews requested assistance from the NC HART program," the release from N.C. Department of Public Safety stated. "The HART crew hoisted the injured hiker into the aircraft, along with a local paramedic who was already providing treatment. They flew both to a nearby landing area and transferred them to a waiting ambulance for transport to a local hospital."

A North Carolina National Guard aircrew based in Salisbury conducted the rescue with a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter and three rescue technicians from the Charlotte Fire Department. Statewide, 14 emergency service agencies participate in the program, the release said.

Hunt Fish Falls is near the border of Avery and Caldwell counties, east of Linville.

Gov. Roy Cooper expressed his appreciation for the dedication of the HART team as well as local rescuers.

“NC HART represents the best of North Carolina, with our state’s first responders and military joining forces to save lives,” Cooper said in the release.

NC HART is a North Carolina Emergency Management program that started in 2004 and pairs civilian rescuers with military and law enforcement aviation assets. Local rescue technicians complete extensive helo-aquatic rescue training with helicopters and aircrews from the State Highway Patrol and N.C. National Guard.